The marble side panel has been glued together with epoxy and 2×4 reinforcement blocks.

The side panel slides freely onto the side of the bathtub frame.

The MagnaPanel lag bolts have been countersunk and screwed into the bathtub frame.

The MagnaPanel magnets are placed onto the head of the lag bolts.

Epoxy the MagnaPanel Magnets to the Side Panel

The magnets will now be epoxied to the back of the marble side panel using the included HARDMAN Double Bubble Fast-Setting Epoxy. The epoxy sets quickly in only 3 to 5 minutes, so be sure to have your work organized.

The location of the magnets requires no measuring and is marked on back of the marble panel by a dab of wet epoxy. The magnet locating procedure is:

A dab of epoxy is wiped onto the back of the magnets as they sit on the lag bolts.

The marble panel set in place and quickly removed leaving a mark of wet epoxy on the back of the panel to perfectly locate positions of the magnets.

More epoxy is mixed and the magnets are permanently epoxied to the back of the panel at the corresponding wet spots.

Cut off the end of the packet with scissors and squeeze out a small amount using the edge of the mixing stick onto a scrap of cardboard.

HARDMAN DOUBLE/BUBBLE Extra-Fast Setting Epoxy Red

Mix the epoxy with the stick:

MagnaPanel: Mix a Small Amount of Epoxy

Apply a small dab of epoxy to each of the four magnets. This will leave a wet spot on back of the panel to precisely locate the positions of the magnets to be permanently epoxied to the marble panel.

Epoxy Dab on Back of the MagnaPanel Magnet

Stand the marble panel against the tub frame to transfer a bit of the epoxy from the magnet to the back of the panel, then quickly remove the panel. It helps to “bump” each corner with the palm of your hand above the magnet / lag bolt to ensure a good transfer of epoxy to the back of the panel.

Marble Bathtub Side Panel Mounting with MagnaPanel

Now with the panel laying face down on the floor:

Mix the rest of the epoxy. I used one epoxy packet per two magnets, two packs and four magnets in all.

Remove each the four magnets from the lag bolts with a putty knife.

Place a generous glob of epoxy on the back of each magnet.

Set each magnet in the previously marked wet spot on back of the panel.

Tie a heavy string to the flat washer and epoxy the washer to the back of the panel near a corner.

Wait at least 30 minutes for the epoxy to cure before installing the panel.

MagnaPanel Final Fitting

The bowed / warped marble panel required some additional fitting such that the magnets all made contact at the same time with the lag bolts. This was done by standing the marble panel in place and pressing against the corners with the palm of my hand. If the panel moved inward, the lag bolt was backed out slightly to eliminate the gap, or low spot, between the lag bolt and magnet. With a little adjustment, the panel sat firmly in place with all magnets “clicking” in contact on the lag bolts for a solid wiggle-free support.

Moulding and Caulk Installation

The quarter-round moulding and side baseboards are reinstalled with a brad nailer running on compressed air. The brad nailer makes the job simple and easy, avoids jarring hammer blows and the risk of hitting the marble with a hammer. Take care to angle the brad downward so it misses the marble.

Re-Installing the Moulding with a Brad Nailer

The large gap between the marble panel and wall is filled with foam backer rod before caulking. Notice the heavy yellow construction string that’s epoxied to the flat washer on back of the panel. The string is used to the pull out the panel if needed in the future.

Backer Rod for Caulk

The string is pushed into the crack behind the backer rod where it can easily be found. The MagnaPanel instructions includes a grid to draw where the string is hidden behind the caulk line so you can find it later. Now all you have to do is not lose the map!

Foam Backer Rod used to Fill Large Gaps before Caulking

The panel and baseboard is caulked with a mildew resistant bath and tub caulk. The Husky 3-in-1 Caulk Tool does an amazing job of finishing the caulk lines for a professional looking job. What a difference a bit of caulk makes in the overall appearance.

Bathtub Side Panel After Caulking

Marble Crack Cover Up

The marble crack is covered up with a 1.5 inch wide by 1/4 inch thick PVC trim strip purchased a Lowes. The PVC trim strip is waterproof, comes in 8 foot pieces and is cut to fit the between the quarter round moulding and the bottom lip of the tub. The trim strip is very light and held in place only by the non-adhesive caulk. The top of the trim strip is sanded to round it over to eliminate sharp edges and blend it into the tub.

Marble Panel Crack Cover Up with PVC Trim Strip

The PVC moulding is pressed onto the caulk line over the crack, then more caulk is applied to the sides of the trim strip. Here’s a photo of the completed job: